With help from Spadea Lignana, The Flying Pickle is turning its one-of-a-kind pickleball club into a fast-growing franchise opportunity.

When Paul Starita first started getting into pickleball in 2022, he didn’t just see a sport; he saw an opportunity to create something different. He teamed up with professional players Nick Peterson and Susannah Barr to launch The Flying Pickle, a club that blends top-tier courts with a fun, social atmosphere. The idea was simple — make pickleball more than a game. Make it an experience.

It didn’t take long for people to take notice.

“After we opened our first club, people from all over started reaching out,” Starita said. “They wanted to know how we did it — and how they could bring it to their own communities.”

At first, the team thought they’d just open more corporate-owned locations. But the demand was too strong to ignore, and it quickly became clear that franchising was the right path forward. So, last year, they started working with franchise law firm Spadea Lignana to get everything in place.

“Spadea was a huge help,” said Starita. “They walked us through everything — building our FDD [Franchise Disclosure Document], explaining how to use it to support our franchise sales and helping us stay on track with compliance.”

Unlike other pickleball clubs that focus only on courts and climate control, The Flying Pickle is all about community and creating a space where people want to hang out, not just play. That’s been a big reason for the brand’s early success — and why so many people are interested in joining the franchise.

“There’s no clear roadmap when it comes to franchising a pickleball concept,” Starita said. “Everyone is figuring it out in real time, which is why having a partner like Spadea has been so important. They’ve seen it all before and helped us avoid mistakes along the way.”

Since finalizing the FDD, the brand has signed leases on two more corporate locations and brought on four new franchisees — all in a matter of weeks. Starita says those early wins have helped build momentum and confidence as they continue to grow.

Still, The Flying Pickle team isn’t looking to grow just for the sake of it. They’re focused on bringing in the right franchisees — people who care about creating a great member experience and building community in their local markets.

“We’re not just selling access to courts,” Starita said. “We’re creating a place where people come to connect. That’s something we’re really proud of.”

Looking back, Starita says one of the best decisions they made was choosing the right legal and consulting partners. “If you’re thinking about franchising, get a good law firm and consulting team. We spent a lot of time making sure we picked the right ones, and it made a huge difference.”

With its mix of fun, fitness and community, The Flying Pickle is showing that the future of pickleball isn’t just about playing — it’s about belonging. And with Spadea Lignana helping guide their franchise journey, that future is looking bright.

For more information on The Flying Pickle, visit  https://franchise.theflyingpickle.com/.